Apparatus for charring wood refuse or the like.



170.777.415. PATENTED DEO. 13, 1904. W. A. G. VON HEIDENSTAM.

APPARATUS FOR CHARRING WOOD REFUSE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB` l, 1900.

ZSHEETS-SHBET l.

N0 MODEL.

No. 777,415. PATENTED DEG. 13, 1904. W. A. G. VON HEIDENSTAM.

APPARATUS FOR OHARRING WOGD REFUSE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATIN FILED FEB` l, 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

N0 MODEL.'

iran STATEs Patented iDecember 13, 1904.

PATENT tric.

APFWFITUS FOP CHARRING WOOD REFUSE UH 'l'l-lt LIKE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,415, dated December 137 1904,

Application filed February l, 190C'. Serial No. 3,587. (No modelf.'

To @ZZ whom t may cotccrn:

Be it known that l, vWunrrinn Aunnns Grusn TAF vou HmDENs'rAM, a subject of the King of Sweden and N orway,and a resident of Sknvik, Sweden, have invented a new and useful improvement in Apparatus for @barring lNood Refuse or the Like, of which the follo wing is a specilication, reference being' had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof.

The invention relates toan apparatus for charring wood refuse, peat, or other materials under Apressure either constant or variable. For the purpose in question the raw materials have heretofore been formed or pressed into rods of suitable dimensions which havebeen subsequently heated in a corresponding retort under simultaneous compression as the charring process progresses. The compressionis eifected by means of a plunger or like means which during the whole of the charring process or during the portion of same when contraction or shrinking occurs continually presses on the material with a constant pressure, so as to give the density7 required to the charcoal. @wing to the fact, however, that with the method heretofore used the charringI material is in4 contact` with the walls of the retort, the said walls on account of the friction developed absorb a portion of the pressure, and as aresult the material farther away from the plunger is subjected to a considerably less pressure than that nearer the plunger. Uharred rods are consequently obtained which are not uniform in density, but of a density decreasing with the `distance from the plun ger. Another disadvantage resulting from the contact between the material and the retort is that the material is apt to stick in the retort and have to be removed by extraordinary means.

These difficulties are overcome by the present invention, according to which the material is introduced in the retort in such aman ner that it will not be in contact with the walls of the retort. lo avoid bending or fracture of the material in the operation, the niaterial is divided in sections and placed on special plates or disks loosely slipped onto one or more rods or guides attached to the plunger and passing through the retort and apertures at the end of the latter. Charging and emptying' the retort is quickly performed by the aid of said rod and a metal hood that covers the whole either while charring and cooling or only while cooling', so that the incandescent charcoal is not brought in contact with the atmosphere until after cooling.

In the accompanying drawings an apparatus for carrying out the process referred to is shown in vertical sections.

Figure l shows the apparatus with the plun ger in its lowest position. Fig. 2 shows the upper part of the same apparatus containingI compr assed charcoal, the cover being' removed and the charge readyfto be lifted out to be cooled.

Referring to the drawings, 'l represents the retort in which the plunger moves. Said plunger is divided into two parts 2 and 3, one of which, 2, issuspended on a flange 5 of the guide-rod 4t. The compression if effected by means of hydraulic pressure acting on an attachment (not shown) of ashaft l2, sup- 4 porting the plunger 2 3, or in other convenient manner. The retort is covered at the top by a cover 8, which can be bolted in "place by means of swing-bolts 6 and nuts 7 and is provided with a central aperture for the guide-rod. To prevent the charcoal from taking lire when it is to be removed from the retort and while cooling', a hood l0, of metal plate or the like, is provided. Below the said hood is placed a cylinder ll ofthe same diameter as the hood lO for guiding the plunger, 'The said cylinder ll may, however, be omitted, if desired. The cylinder l is provided with a bottom '13, to which is connected a tube llt for letting out the gases generated during the charring process and which is provided with a door way 15 for cleaning purposes."

The method of charring may be carried out as follows: The material to be charred is made into briquets of suitable size and shape. A.,

number of such briquets are placed upon the part 2 of the plunger around the guide rod t in such a manner that during the entire compression process the briquets will not touch the walls of the retort. Said briquets are thereupon covered by a guide-plate 9, on which a fresh layer of briquets are placed, to be in their order covered by a similar plate, &c. Vhen enough has thus been arranged to about fill the retort, the hood is placed around the whole, which is thereupon lowered into the retort. The retort is now closed, as shown in Fig. l, and the charge compressed as well as heated in any suitable manner. When the chai-ring is complete, the cover 8 is removed, and the charcoal mass is subsequently lifted out and allowed to cool in the hood. In place of performing' the operation in the hood it is evidently feasible to lift the charcoal up into the plate-hood after charring and transport said hood to the place where the cooling of the charcoal is to take place.

It is not necessary to make the material into briquets before being placed between the guide-plates, since it is possible to place the same'ibetween said plates before any compression or shaping has taken place.

Having nowY described my invention, what I claim is4 l. rlhe combination with a retort for charring' wood refuse, peat or the like, of a plunger, and guide-rods provided with a bottom plate and a series of guide-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a charring-retort for wood refuse, peat, or the like, of a plun ger, guide-rods provided with a bottom plate and guide-plates adapted to divide the material into sections while being charred, and a hood inclosing said guide-rods, guide-plates and charring material, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WERTHER ANDERS GUSTAF VON HEIDENSTM. Vitnesses:

GUsTAF SvFAN, GERDA LINDKVIST. 

